Police confiscate starting pistol for historical race

A historic race in Bampton will go off with less of a bang this year after police confiscated the starting pistol. The Original Great Shirt Race is run between the village’s pubs and is believed to date back centuries. It involves teams of two people racing around the village, one pushing the other in a ‘chariot’.



The pair have to visit all the village’s pubs and drink half a pint of ale at each. Traditionally, it was always started by firing a 12-bore shotgun into the air, but police stopped that practice in 2000. The shotgun was replaced with a starting pistol but now Government legislation means this year’s event will start with an airhorn.

The pistol was confiscated from race starter John Buckingham over concerns it could be converted into a lethal weapon. Mr Buckingham said: “It’s taking away from the race. It’s always been started with a gun. And I think it’s going to be bad because people aren’t going to be able to hear it.”



Master of ceremonies Don Rouse said: “It’s heath and safety gone mad. When I was told we couldn’t use the starting pistol any more I couldn’t believe it. We are village people, we aren’t criminals. These events are getting harder and harder to organise, with health and safety.”